Exerpts from a recent email from Deb

This week has been good. We are going to Luwerro to play
with some Compassion kids and talk with some missionaries in the area.
I really excited for the trip. Its our first trip!


As for church here.....um... not that great I have to say. I go to my
family's church to the English service. My host sister likes to sit in
the way back, last pew.



People sit down half way through songs and leave sometimes before the service is over or they show up half way through.
The things is that tons of people come but I think they come for
something to do or because everyone goes on Sunday and not necessarily because they really want to be there.



Its interesting. It not what I thought church was going to be like here. I'm going to try out some other churches here in February with some other USP students.

Weeraba! ( good bye in Luganda)
Love Debbi

Walking to Class

A lot of people have been asking some of the some of the same questions so I thought I would answer them here:
1. I get to school by the two feet that God gave me. If I take the short cut which is a little dirt path that goes back through some fields, pass some cute kids who sit on thier front slab( i guess you could call it) waving, saying "bye mzungu! Bye", and in between some houses to the a little gate at the side of campus that we use to go to monkey hill. It takes 15 mins. But if it rains or I feel like being run over by boda bodas (moterclyces that transport people places) I take the road that I live on down a bumpy red dirt road ( all roads by the way are dirt around here) to the main road to campus that is lined with street venters that sell anything from maze cooked over a caroal stove infront of you to a flank of beef that just hanging from thier shop wall. ( and when I mean "shop" I mean a hand crarfted box built out of spare boards that is big enough for two people to stand with their heads almost toughing the ceiling and a little room for them to turn around. the front part has a window with a shelf that is on the outside that they put thier goods that are for sale. An a door on one of the sides. There are tons of these that line side of the street. Some bigger, some smaller, some light pink, some light green ) This walk takes me 20ish mintues to get to school.
2. Classes.... So all but one of my classes I take with other USP Students. Its African Ethics and so far it has been really interesting. Then the USP cources are: Faith in Action, IMME Practicum, Politics Of East Africa and Religions of Africa. Well I just realized the time and I need to head home before it gets darks so I'll write more about classes next week. have a great weekend everyone:)

My First week

Today is my first day that I have had time to post something myself without the help of Mom (thanks). Life has been busy since arriving- just settling in and getting used to life here. Ugandans are very friendly and are quick to welcome you to the country.
Some details about life here:
My family that I lived with are Godfrey and Resty and right now two of their kids live with them Maria and Petter who are both in their 20's. Maria is the one that shows me how to do everything and the one that I usually ask if I need help or have a question. The family has a cow, some chickens, and goats.
My day usually starts at 5 am when my host dad gets up and turns on the radio. ( the house’s walls don't go all the way to the roof so you hear everything. kind of like the cabin except the floors are cement and the roof is metal.) Then I doze off until 6 when he comes to say good morning and good bye to Maria and me. I continue to doze until 7 when I get up and ready for school. They don't have indoor plumbing so the toilets are outside. But they are not just any kind of toilets they are "squaty potties" where you squat over a whole that is in the shade of a brick. It’s actually not that bad. They also don’t have shower so I take bath out of a bucket. My host mom makes me tea and gives me corn and bread for breakfast. I head off to school around 8 until 6:30. I’m not allowed to be outside after dark so I have to get home by 7. Then I usually take a bath and hang out with the family until 9 or 10 when we eat dinner then all go to bed. I like it here. It was hard at first but I’m getting setting in and getting the hang of things. I still have many more things to learn- two being Luanda (the language) and how to wash laundry by hand. Yay! I’m not sure how often I will be able to leave post but we shall see.

New Insights Into Life In Uganda

.......Things are very crazy just trying to get settle in and used to everything. It is a different world here. Everyone just moves at a slower pace. They walk slower, talk slower and they just chill.
One of the girls in my group heard someone say that "Americans may wear watches but it's the Africans that have time."
They are a culture that really focuses more on people and less on doing things or going places.... well I have to go-we are going on a scavenger hunt in Mukono at 5.

First Words from Uganda

Hey I'm here safe and got my host family on Saturday-friday your time.
They are very nice. My parents are Godfree and Reste (im not sure how
to spell them.) This is my fist day of class i'll try again when I get
my charger my battery is low. I'm good.
Debbi

(this is a copy and paste version of an email Debbi sent to me but thought those of you who are trying to follow her on the blog would enjoy hearing what she has to say about her first few days.)

And So She Begins Her Journey....

We (Bobbi, Bek, Deb) left home, for the airport, this morning at 7am. We had a small delay getting to the airport due to weather and traffic, but still made it in plenty of time to get through security and then we waited.

Deb's flight took off just a little later than planned, my guess is because of de-icing procedures, but she is in the air now (as of 11am)

Her back pack weighed in at just shy of 50lbs, her carry on was heavier than it looks and her purse... well packed to the top (her PB&J and carrots somewhere smashed in the middle of it all.)

If you want to track her flights she will be leaving Dulles on BA#216 @ 6:15pm. Eventually arriving in Entebble tomorrow evening. Please continue to pray for a safe and uneventful trip.

Welcome to my blog. I hope to keep you updated during my stay in Uganda.